Many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks. This can be a very traumatic time for your dog. Unfortunately, the fear never really goes away. And although it may appear that doggie is coping while you are in the same room, when doggie is left alone, particularly outside, is when they real dangers begin. Dogs have been known to dig out of kennel runs, fences, just fences, jump through windows and screen doors, anything to get away. They become disoriented. They will get lost or run in traffic.  They panic! Although you can try desensitizing them to the loud thunder, that takes time. And perhaps if you start early enough, it won’t become an issue. Many rescue and adopted dogs sometimes have issues from their past. Give it time and patience. Always put yourself in the dog’s position. How would you feel when you are confronted with one of your own fears? Do you panic? Try and get away? Well so do they.

1. Try to keep the activities in the house during a storm as normal as possible. Don’t make a big deal about the storm. Doggie needs to feel confident not get sympathy. If he sees you’re not making a big deal about it, he may feel more comfortable. Use a happy, cheerful tone; Distract doggie by playing some games with her.

2.Some dogs are so afraid they will need medication to cope with this. The only problem with this is that most of us only know the storms are coming when they hit. In humans, it takes about 15-20minutes for a pill to break down and take effect. By then the storm will have hopefully passed. If you see or hear something in a distance or expect thunderstorms that day, it might be a good idea to give her something. We give our dogs a 1 or 2 Benadryls. This is an allergy medication, antihistamine and make you a little sleepy. We have been giving it to Hawken for years for his “hot spot” allergies and it works well. Totally safe. Always check with your vet first. He might suggest a mild sedative instead.

3. We notice our dogs go into their crates voluntarily when a storms hit. The door is open so they can come and go at will. Make sure your dog has his own little place where he feels safe. Some go into the bathroom, behind the couch, etc. This is a blessing for them. We always recommend crates from puppies up. This is also one of the reasons to have a crate around.

4. Background noise. Television, music, anything. Their hearing is sharp, but they also have many more sensitive senses that we do have. They feel the pressure in the air change, they smell the wind, and they feel the ground movement. So anything is worth a try. We keep our 3 males outside so they are use to the storms. They have lots of shelter, numerous places they can go to. But I have a few dogs that are so afraid they shake. We make sure they are in the house when these storms come up to prevent any serious problems. I would rather bring them in for an hour and then take them back out again. We hope you never have an animal that is afraid of loud noises. It is a serious fear and needs to be dealt with. Remember, your dog depends on you for all his needs, including his fears. Always make sure your dog is safe with or without you. .